LATIN LESSONS: Pro Se and Pro Per

You may have heard the Latin terms “pro se” and/or “pro per” tossed about when discussing who
someone is legally represented by.

Pro se is a term utilized in the court system to refer to someone who has opted to represent
himself. Translated from Latin it means on one’s own behalf. Pro per is used in the courtroom
interchangeably with pro se and is an abbreviation for the Latin term “in propria persona” which
means in one’s own person.

If you have chosen to eschew an attorney’s representation in court and instead opted to represent
yourself, you will likely be referred to as pro se and/or pro per.

© 4/17/2018 Heather M. Carr of Hunt & Associates, P.C. All rights reserved.